Communicating apparatus, control method of communicating apparatus, and control program of communicating apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a communicating apparatus which makes speech and image communication, a proper communication path is selected by a simple construction of a low cost, thereby enabling data communication of a high-speed and high reliability to be performed. If a telephone number of an opponent station corresponds to an VoIP network, a communicating apparatus obtains an IP address of the opponent station from an SIP proxy server and sends and receives communication data on an IP network to/from the opponent station by a file sending/receiving protocol such as FTP, HTTP, or the like. If the telephone number of an opponent station does not correspond to the VoIP, image data is facsimile-modulated, a digital encoding method (64 kbps PCM encoding) suitable for a facsimile modulating method is selected, and an analog facsimile signal obtained by the facsimile modulation is digitally encoded and sent to the opponent station through a media gateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IP network and a public line network.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a communicating apparatus which makes speechand image communication and corresponds to an analog communication pathand a network communication path and also a control method and a controlprogram of such a communicating apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, a broadband communication line such as an ADSL whichcan send data at a high speed has been spread. The ADSL is characterizedin that the same metallic cable as a telephone line is used as asubscriber's line, so that the same line can be used for both an analogtelephone service and a network connecting service. That is, byinserting a filter called a splitter for dividing a frequency betweenthe communication line and a communication terminal, the line can beseparated into a line for sending a speech band signal and a line forsending digital data.

In the case of using the same line for the analog telephone service,although various constructions such as (ADSL modem+splitter+computer),(ADSL modem+splitter+router), . . . are possible as constructions ofapparatuses of the subscribers, a construction in which, for example,portions of (ADSL modem+splitter) are integrated is possible as an ADSLgateway taking into consideration use as a telephone in common.According to such an ADSL gateway, for example, a modular jack isprovided so that an analog telephone can be connected to the line whichsends a speech band signal and a communicating apparatus like atelephone or a facsimile is connected to the modular jack, therebyenabling communication to be made.

For the high-speed digital communication, a connecting interface ofCSMA/CD (for example, Ethernet (trademark)) is provided for the ADSLgateway. By connecting a PC (personal computer) or the like to theCSMA/CD interface, data can be downloaded from the WWW server or thelike at a high speed. Not only the CSMA/CD interface but also aninterface such as a USB is used as an interface between the line and thenetwork apparatus such as a PC.

Although a terminal such as a PC which is used to be connected to aserver can make high-speed communication, a terminal such as telephoneor facsimile for sending and receiving data in a real-time mannerto/from an opponent terminal via a line exchange network (analogcommunication path) uses an analog band. While there are cases that donot become problems in an analog facsimile procedure of binary (blackand white) image data or the like, there is a problem of requiring along communication time in the case of sending color image (in a JPEGformat or the like) data of a large capacity obtained by photographingan object with a digital camera or the like.

The high-speed transmission can be realized for sending communicationdata such as image data or the like at a high speed with such aprocedure that the facsimile is connected to the CSMA/CD interface, theimage data is uploaded as packets to a file server (for example, aprotocol such as FTP, HTTP, or the like is used), and the opponentterminal downloads the image data from the server. In such a case,however, there is such a problem that since the reception side needs toexecute the process to access to the server in order to receive thedata, real-time performance of the communication is lost. In the case ofnotifying the server of a destination address of the receiving side ordownloading the data on the initiation of the receiving side, amechanism for notifying the receiving side of the uploading of the data,or the like is necessary. It is difficult to realize the communicationwith a simple operation of merely designating a telephone number of anopponent destination as in the conventional facsimile apparatus.

In consideration of the above problems, a technique for making imagecommunication via servers on an IP network has been disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-107938 (the followingPatent Document 1). That is, a first terminal of a sending side of animage calls the server in which the first terminal is included, thefirst terminal is connected to a computer network through the server inwhich the first terminal is included, and a second terminal serving as areceiving side of the image is designated, while a server of a networkin which the second terminal calls the second terminal is included, thefirst terminal sends the image data to the server in which the secondterminal is included through the computer network in a format suitablefor the computer network, the server in which the second terminal isincluded converts the image data in the format adapted to the computernetwork into facsimile image data and sends it to the second terminalthrough a public line, and the second terminal reproduces the image fromthe facsimile image data.

Many methods of sending an image in an E-mail format by inputting anInternet address of a sending destination have been proposed in JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. H09-247334 (the following PatentDocument 2), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-133967 (thefollowing Patent Document 3), and the like.

Further, methods of relaying facsimile image transmission on theInternet in a real-time manner by applying the ITU-T Recommendation T.38have been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2000-354127 (the following Patent Document 4), Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2001-197279 (the following Patent Document 5),and the like.

-   -   [Patent Document 11] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        H10-107938    -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        H09-247334    -   [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        H10-133967    -   [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        2000-354127    -   [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        2001-197279    -   [Patent Document 6] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.        H04-109736

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, in the Patent Document 1, it is necessary to input the terminalnumber of the sending destination after the terminal of a sending sourceside is dial-up connected to the server and a log-in process includingan authenticating procedure or the like is executed. Therefore, such aconstruction that the image is sent merely by inputting the telephonenumber as in the conventional facsimile cannot be realized.

In the Patent Documents 2 and 3, it is necessary to input an E-mailaddress in the case of sending data via the Internet. There is also sucha problem that since the image is sent by E-mail, the image data isaccumulated in the server and the receiving side needs to access theserver by an E-mail reading protocol such as a POP (Post OfficeProtocol) or the like and receive.

Further, in the Patent Documents 4 and 5, since the dedicated gatewayfor processing the protocol of ITU-T Recommendation T.38 is necessaryand an ordinary telephone line is used between the terminal and theInternet, a transmission speed is equal to that in the case of thefacsimile communication using the conventional telephone line exchangenetwork.

To solve the above problems, there is a method whereby, for example, aconstruction as shown in FIG. 2B is used, an environment of VoIP (VoiceOver Internet Protocol) is used, and the high-speed image communicationis made in a real-time manner by the operation similar to that of theconventional facsimile. FIG. 2B shows component members for imagecommunication arranged around a system bus of an image communicatingapparatus.

In the construction in FIG. 2B, a function of an SIP proxy (or gatekeeper) of the VoIP network is used, an IP address corresponding to thetelephone number of the sending destination side is obtained, and theimage data converted into a predetermined file format is sent to theterminal of the sending destination side via a LAN controller 1216 . . .the CSMA/CD interface.

When making communication with a facsimile apparatus which is notconnected to the VoIP network, a transmission image is modulated by afacsimile modem 1207, a generated analog signal is digitally encoded bya codec 1210 for VoIP and subsequently converted into packets, and theconverted packets are sent via the LAN controller 1216 . . . the CSMA/CDinterface by using a procedure similar to VoIP speech communication.

In the case of making the inherent VoIP speech communication, a speechinput/output unit 1208 such as a handset or the like is connected to thecodec 1210 for VoIP through a switch 1209, thereby making the VoIPspeech communication.

However, when communicating with the facsimile apparatus which is notconnected to the VoIP network by such a construction, the signal ismodulated by the facsimile modem and the modulated analog signal isdigitally encoded by the codec for VoIP and sent, so that there are thefollowing problems.

(1) Since the facsimile modem needs to be installed even when afrequency of the communication with the facsimile apparatus which is notconnected to the VoIP network is low, cost performance is low.

(2) Since many converting processes (the digital image signal→the analogmodulation signal→the digital coded data) are necessary, a circuit scaleis large and a data processing amount is large.

In the above Patent Document 6, there has been disclosed a constructionin which frequency converting means is arranged between modulating meansfor modulating a digital image signal and encoding means and atransmission image is encoded in a speech codec format without executingwasteful analog conversion (in FIG. 2B, analog transmission between thefacsimile modem 1207 and the codec 1210 for VoIP).

However, according to the invention of the Patent Document 6,consideration is given only to the image transmission and a system forcommunicating a speech and an image is not considered. Therefore, toapply the construction of the Patent Document 6 to an apparatus whichneeds to send both a speech and an image, different digital encodingunits have to be provided for the speech and the image.

In the construction of the Patent Document 6, since no consideration isgiven to a point that there is a possibility that a plurality ofencoding methods of different transmission speeds like a VoIP areselected, there is also a case where quantization errors which arecaused by the digital encoding are large and the image communicationcannot be normally made in dependence on the modulating method of theimage.

In consideration of the above problems, it is an object of the inventionto provide a communicating apparatus which makes speech and imagecommunication and corresponds to an analog communication path and anetwork communication path, wherein a proper communication path can beselected and data communication of a high speed and high reliability canbe made by a simple construction of a low cost.

To solve the above problems, according to the invention,

when image data is sent to an opponent station, if the opponent stationhas an IP address, there is selected a first image communicatingprocedure by which the image data is not facsimile-modulated but sentand received to/from the opponent station on an IP network on the basisof a predetermined IP communication protocol by using the IP address ofthe opponent station obtained from a predetermined server on the basisof a telephone number of the opponent station, and

if the opponent station does not have the IP address, there is selecteda second image communicating procedure by which the image data isfacsimile-modulated by a predetermined facsimile modulating method, adigital encoding method of digital encoding means is switched to adigital encoding method suitable for the facsimile modulating method, ananalog facsimile signal obtained by the facsimile modulation isdigitally encoded by the digital encoding means, and subsequently, thedigital coded signal is sent to the opponent station through a mediagateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IPnetwork and a public line network.

By using the characteristic construction as mentioned above, accordingto the invention, the following advantages are obtained: a large amountof image data Can be sent to the opponent station at a high speed byusing the first image communicating procedure without using thefacsimile procedure, and when the image communication is made by thesecond image communicating procedure, the digital encoding method thatis optimum to the facsimile modulating method is selected and the imagecommunication of high reliability can be made with the opponent stationthrough the media gateway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a construction of a network systemincluding image communicating apparatuses using the invention.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram showing an internal construction of the imagecommunicating apparatus using the invention.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram showing an internal construction of aconventional image communicating apparatus.

FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence forsending an image from an image communicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1 toan image communicating apparatus 107.

FIG. 3B is an explanatory diagram showing a communication sequence forsending an image from the image communicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1 toan image communicating apparatus 112.

FIG. 3C is an explanatory diagram showing a different communicationsequence for sending the image from the image communicating apparatus104 in FIG. 1 to the image communicating apparatus 107.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4C is a flowchart showing the communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 107 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a communication control of an SIP proxy inFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a communication control of a media gateway111 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 112 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an encoding method which isused in the image communicating apparatus 104 in FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The invention will be described in detail hereinbelow on the basis ofembodiments shown in the drawings. The invention can be applied to acommunicating apparatus which makes speech and image communication andcorresponds to an analog communication path and a network communicationpath. An embodiment regarding the communicating apparatus constructed asa dedicated apparatus and a control method and a control program of sucha communicating apparatus is shown below.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a construction of a network system to which the embodimentcan be applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes Internet(hereinafter, referred to as an IP network) and 102 indicates a DNS(Domain Name Service) server for executing a process for converting adomain name into an IP address.

Reference numeral 103 denotes an SIP proxy (global IP address:191.168.0.1) for VoIP which provides an SIP (Session InitiationProtocol) service for executing a call connecting process in an IPtelephone service.

Reference numeral 104 denotes a first image communicating apparatus(global IP address: 192.168.0.1) which operates as a calling/imagesending apparatus in the embodiment. A detailed construction of theimage communicating apparatus 104 will be described hereinafter withreference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Reference numeral 105 denotes an ADSL modem having therein: an analogtelephone interface for connecting an analog telephone; and an Ethernetinterface for sending and receiving digital data. The ADSL modem 105 hasa function for multiplexing a speech band signal that is sent via theanalog telephone interface and a signal of a band out of the speech bandthat is sent via the Ethernet interface, modulating the multiplexedsignal, and sending the modulated signal to a communication line. TheADSL modem 105 also has a function for separating the signal receivedfrom the communication line into the speech band signal and theout-of-speech band signal and outputting them to the analog telephoneinterface and a CSMA/CD (for example, Ethernet (trademark)) interface,respectively.

Reference numeral 106 denotes a CSMA/CD interface for connecting theADSL modem 105 and the image communicating apparatus 104; 107 a secondimage communicating apparatus (global IP address: 193.168.0.1); 108 anADSL modem; 109 a CSMA/CD interface; 110 a telephone line exchangenetwork; 111 a media gateway for connecting the IP network 101 to thetelephone line exchange network 110 and executing a data convertingprocess; and 112 an image communicating apparatus such as a facsimileapparatus or the like which is connected to the telephone line exchangenetwork. The image communicating apparatuses 107 to 112 operate as acall-in/image receiving apparatus in the embodiment.

The media gateway 111 executes an analog/digital signal conversionbetween the IP network and the public line network and is installed by aservice provider, particularly, by an Internet service provider or thelike which provides the IP telephone service. In the embodiment, it isassumed that the media gateway 111 has: connecting means (a CSMA/CDinterface or a higher-speed interface) like a LAN controller 216 (FIG.2A) for connecting to the Internet side, which will be explainedhereinafter; interface means with the telephone line exchange network110; and further, signal converting means which supports the samedigital encoding method as that of a modem codec 210 (FIG. 2A), whichwill be explained hereinafter.

When an IP telephone calling destination from a terminal (for example,the image communicating apparatus 104) in a network of the Internetservice provider of a person who has installed the media gateway 111 isa subscriber's terminal (for example, the image communicating apparatus112) of the telephone line exchange network 110, the media gateway 111executes a responding process of the SIP protocol and, thereafter,executes the analog/digital signal conversion between a calling terminalof the IP network 101 side and a call-in terminal on the side of thetelephone line exchange network 110. At this time, a signal which issent and received to/from the IP network 101 is a (speech) data signalwhich has been digitally encoded on the basis of the VoIP standard, andthe signal which is sent and received to/from the telephone lineexchange network 110 is an analog signal of the speech band.

With respect to the calling from the telephone line exchange network 110side, the line provider of the telephone line exchange network 110analyzes a telephone number (based on an IP telephone number startingwith, for example, a “050” prefix). Thus, if the destination is thesubscriber in the network of the person who has installed the mediagateway 111, the calling is routed to the media gateway 111. After that,the terminal in the network of the installing person of the mediagateway 111 is called on the basis of the SIP protocol. In thecalling/call-in control between the IP network 101 and the telephoneline exchange network 110 as mentioned above, a No. 7 common line signalsystem is used between the media gateway 111 and an intra-officeexchange of the telephone line exchange network 110 side.

FIG. 2A shows a construction of the image communicating apparatus (104or 107 in FIG. 1) using the invention. In the diagram, reference numeral201 denotes a CPU for controlling the image communicating apparatus inaccordance with a program stored in a ROM 202. The CPU 201 also executesa protocol process of TCP/IP and an assembling process of the image datainto a TCP/IP frame is executed by a control of the CPU 201. Referencenumeral 203 denotes a RAM which is used as a work memory upon executionof the program and also used for buffering the image data which issent/received.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) which isconstructed by an optical sensor and a document feeding mechanism, readsout an image on an original, and converts the read image into an analogimage signal. A read control unit 205 converts the analog signaloutputted from the CIS 204 into digital data. The converted digital datais transferred to the RAM 203 by the control of the CPU 201.

Reference numeral 206 denotes an MH encoding/decoding processing unitfor MH encoding the read image data and compressing it in the imagesending mode and decoding the MH encoded image data in the receivingmode.

Reference numeral 208 denotes a speech input/output unit (handset)constructed by a microphone for inputting a voice sound and a speakerfor generating the voice sound.

Reference numeral 210 denotes the modem codec constructed by: an A/Dconverter 210-1 for digitally converting the speech analog signal into adigital signal for a digital signal process; a tone generator unit 210-2for generating a tone such as a CNG or the like that is necessary for afacsimile sending procedure specified by ITU-T Recommendation T.30; amodulation processing unit 210-3 for modulating the image data which isinputted via a data bus; a digital encoding unit 210-4; and a selector210-5 for selecting one of signal sources inputted to the digitalencoding unit 210-4.

The digital encoding unit 210-4 is a characteristic portion of theinvention and provided for executing the digital encoding suitable foreach of the speech signal and the facsimile signal. The digital encodingunit 210-4 supports each of the encoding methods such as 64 kbps: PCM(G.711), 16 kb/sec: LD-CELP (G.728), 8 kb/sec: CS-ACELP (G.729/G.729a),6.3 kb/sec: MP-MLQ (G.723.1), and 5.3 kb/sec: A-CELP (G.723.1) which areused in VoIP and can executes the digital encoding process at one ofthose sampling rates.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a key operation unit constructed by adial, operation buttons for the facsimile transmission/reception, andthe like. Reference numeral 212 denotes a liquid crystal display unit.

Reference numeral 213 denotes a record processing unit for convertingthe received image data into raster data for printing and printing. Anarbitrary method can be used as a recording method of the recordprocessing unit 213, for example, an electrophotographic method or anink jet method.

Reference numeral 214 denotes a card interface to which a memory card inwhich JPEG images photographed by a digital camera have been stored canbe connected.

Reference numeral 215 denotes a JPEG processing unit which can JPEGcompress a JPEG image inputted via a card interface or decompress thereceived JPEG image data.

Reference numeral 216 denotes a LAN controller for sending and receivingdata to/from the ADSL modem via the CSMA/CD interface 106 (109). Whenthe data to be sent is transferred to the LAN controller 216, the LANcontroller 216 adds an MAC (Media Access Control) frame header andcontrol data such as an FCS (Frame Check Sequence) and the like to thedata and, subsequently, sends the resultant data to the CSMA/CDinterface.

The communication control in the above construction will now bedescribed. Processes in the case of sending the image from the firstimage communicating apparatus 104 to the second image communicatingapparatus 107 and the third image communicating apparatus 112 will nowbe described hereinbelow. Explanation will now be made on the assumptionthat the JPEG image data obtained by photographing an object by thedigital camera is sent to the second image communicating apparatus 107and the image data read by the scanner is sent as a G3 facsimile image(MH encoded image) to the third image communicating apparatus 112.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show a communication control procedure which isexecuted by the image communicating apparatus (104). FIG. 5 shows acommunication control procedure which is executed by the imagecommunicating apparatus (107). FIG. 6 shows a communication controlprocedure which is executed by the SIP proxy 103. FIG. 7 shows acommunication control procedure which is executed by the media gateway111. FIG. 8 shows a communication control procedure which is executed bythe image communicating apparatus (112). The procedures shown in thosediagrams are stored as control programs of the CPU 201 into the ROM 202and executed by the CPU 201 (in the case of the image communicatingapparatus 104, similar storing media are used in the other apparatuses.)However, a storing location of the program for realizing thecommunication control procedure in the embodiment is not limited to theROM. A path for supplying the program can be stored in the ROM at thetime of shipping or can be also supplied or updated via another storingmedium or through a network.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show the communication sequences which are realized bythe communication control shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C to 8. Numbers ofthe steps corresponding to the processes in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C to 8 arewritten.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing an image communication sequence with theterminal connected to the VoIP network.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing an image communication sequence with theterminal which is not connected to the VoIP network.

FIG. 3C is a flowchart showing an image communication sequence accordingto the IPPFAX.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing the communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104.

FIG. 4C is a flowchart showing the communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 107.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the communication control of the SIP proxy103.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the communication control of the gateway111.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a communication control of the imagecommunicating apparatus 112.

When a destination is inputted by the key operation unit 211 of theimage communicating apparatus 104 (step S401 in FIG. 4A), the number isanalyzed. This analysis is performed to discriminate whether or not thecommunication to the destination is made via the VoIP network. Forexample, assuming that the number is equal to 050-1234-5678, it isdetermined from the number of head three digits that the communicationis made to the opponent via the VoIP network (step S402). Processes instep S403 and subsequent steps are executed.

The telephone number prefix “050” of the three digits mentioned above isthe number which has been predetermined as a number showing acommunication company of the IP telephone using the VoIP network atpresent. Naturally, this regulation is valid in Japan and can beproperly changed in the case where another number schedule in a foreigncountry or the like is applied. If the communication is not made to thedestination via the VoIP network, processes of FIG. 4B, which will beexplained hereinafter, are executed. Although the above discriminationhas been made on the basis of the prefix of the head three digits here,the invention is not limited to it. Whether or not the opponent cancommunicate via the VoIP network can be also discriminated everytelephone number of the opponent destination on the basis of a table inwhich proper discriminating conditions have been stored.

If the destination is the opponent who can communicate via the VoIPnetwork, a part of the VoIP/SIP is used and the image communicatingapparatuses 104 and 107 communicate on the IP network in accordance withthe communication sequence as shown in FIG. 3A without using the analogspeech line. First, in step S403 in FIG. 4A, a session asking message(INVITE message) of the SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) in which thetelephone number information has been inserted is sent via the CSMA/CDinterface 106 connected to the ADSL modem. A private IP address191.168.0.1 of the SIP proxy 103 is inserted into the sendingdestination address of the session asking message and the resultantsending destination address is sent.

The internal operation for sending the SIP packets is as follows. First,on the basis of the program stored in the ROM 202, the CPU 201 generatesthe telephone number information inputted from the key operation unit211 as a sending destination and generates the session asking message towhich the telephone number information of the image communicatingapparatus 104 has been added as a header for a sending source side.Subsequently, the CPU 201 generates a frame in which the IP headerincluding a sending destination IP address and a sending source IPaddress has been added to the message and transfers the frame to the LANcontroller 216. “191.168.0.1” as an IP address of the SIP proxy isinserted into the sending destination IP address, “192.168.0.1” as an IPaddress of the image communicating apparatus 104 is inserted into thesending source IP address, and the resultant addresses are sent.

When the LAN controller 216 receives the sent data, the LAN controlleradds an MAC (Media Access Control) header to it and sends the resultantdata to the ADSL modem 105 (FIG. 1). The ADSL modem 105 which receivedthe data sends the received data to the IP network 101. Various messageswhich are sent after that are also sent by a similar procedure.

In the case of the present packets, since the IP address of the SIPproxy has been inserted in the sending destination IP address, they aresent to the SIP proxy 103 via the IP network 101 (step S601 in FIG. 6).

The SIP proxy 103 develops the telephone number in the header of thereceived session asking message into a URL of“8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.e164.arpa” (step S602) and searches the DNS server 102(step S603). The SIP proxy 103 which received the IP address of theimage communicating apparatus 107 of the opponent destination from theDNS server 102 (step S604) replaces the sending destination IP addressin the packet received from the image communicating apparatus 104 withthe IP address of the image communicating apparatus 107 received fromthe DNS server 102, replaces the sending source IP address with the IPaddress of the SIP proxy 103, and sends the session asking message tothe image communicating apparatus 107 (step S605).

On the other hand, the image communicating apparatus 107 which receivedthe session asking message (step S501 in FIG. 5) sends an on-callingmessage to the SIP proxy 103 (step S502). The sending source telephonenumber information described in the header of the received sessionasking message is inserted into the destination in a header of theon-calling message, the address of the SIP proxy 103 as a sending sourceIP address of the session asking message is inserted into the sendingdestination IP address, and the resultant address is sent.

The SIP proxy 103 which received the on-calling message (step S606 inFIG. 6) replaces the sending destination IP address with the IP addressof the image communicating apparatus 104, replaces the sending source IPaddress with the IP address of the SIP proxy 103, and sends theresultant IP addresses (step S607). The image communicating apparatus104 receives an on-calling message (step S404).

Subsequently, if the image communicating apparatus 107 is in the statewhere it can receive an image (step S503 in FIG. 5), the apparatus 107sends a reply message to the SIP proxy 103 (step S504). The SIP proxy103 which received the reply message (step S608) converts only thesending destination IP address into the IP address of the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 and sends it (step S609). The imagecommunicating apparatus 104 receives the reply message (step S405 inFIG. 4A).

The image communicating apparatus 104 can recognizes the IP address ofthe image communicating apparatus 107 by the sending source IP addressin the received reply message (step S406). After that, the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 can directly send the packets to the imagecommunicating apparatus 107 without passing through the SIP proxy 103.

As mentioned above, the sending and reception of the image data betweenthe image communicating apparatuses 104 and 107 can be started. In thiscase, since it has already been known from the telephone number that theopponent station has been connected to the VoIP network, it is presumedthat the image communication by a non-facsimile procedure, which will beexplained hereinafter, is naturally possible.

In step S407 and subsequent steps, the image data is assembled in theframe of the TCP/IP and sent. The IP address of the image communicatingapparatus 107 has been added to the sending destination address. Anarbitrary protocol can be used with respect to a file transfer protocolcorresponding to an upper layer of the TCP/IP which is used in the imagecommunication. For example, it is possible to use an SMTP (Simple MailTransfer Protocol), an IPPFAX (Internet Printing Protocol FAX), an FTP(File Transfer Protocol), or an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)which are generally used, a dedicated method to which those protocolsare applied, or the like.

In the embodiment, each of the image communicating apparatuses 104 and107 has both functions of an SMTP client and a server therein and animage file can be transferred between those apparatuses by the SMTP. Instep S407 and subsequent steps, control for sending and receiving theimage data by the SMTP is shown.

Although a sending and receiving state of a communication message by theSMTP is also shown in the schematic flowchart (FIG. 4A), it is shown inmore detail hereinbelow (refer to RFC821 or RFC822 with respect to thedetails of the SMTP message). All of those messages are sent andreceived on the frame of the TCP/IP. In the following sequence, “S:”indicates a text message which is sent by a sending side terminal (imagecommunicating apparatus 104) through an SMTP port and “R:” shows a textmessage which is sent by a receiving side terminal (image communicatingapparatus 107) through an SMTP port.

-   -   S: HELO Image Terminal 105    -   R: 250 Image Terminal 107    -   S: MAIL FROM: <192.168.0.1>    -   R: 250 OK    -   S: RCPT TO:<193.168.0.1>    -   R: 250 OK    -   S: DATA    -   R: 354 Start mail input; end with <CRLF>.<CRLF>    -   S: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Image Data)    -   S: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Image Data)    -   S: .    -   R: 2500K    -   S: QUIT    -   R: 221

Prior to sending the image data, the image communicating apparatus 104activates an SMTP handler (program) and sends a “HELO” message showingthe start of the communication (step S407 in FIG. 4A). The imagecommunicating apparatus 107 which received the “HELO” message (step S505in FIG. 5) sends a reply message “250” showing that the message has beenreceived (step S506 in FIG. 5).

Subsequently, the image communicating apparatus 104 sends a message“MAIL FROM <192.168.0.1> (step S408). The image communicating apparatus107 which received this message (step S507) sends a reply message “250”showing that the message has been received (step S508).

Subsequently, the image communicating apparatus 104 sends a message“RCPT TO: <193.168.0.1> which designates the receiver (step S409). Onthe other hand, when the image communicating apparatus 104 receives thereply message from the image communicating apparatus 107 (steps S509,S510), it sends a “DATA” message showing the start of the sending of thedata (step S410 in FIG. 4A, step S511 in FIG. 5). In response to it, theimage communicating apparatus 107 sends a “354” message showingpermission of the start of the sending of the data (steps S512). Whenthe image communicating apparatus 104 receives the “354” message fromthe image communicating apparatus 107 (step S411), the apparatus 104starts to send the image data (steps S412).

The image data to be sent is sent in an attached file format of E-mail.Since an MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) format is widelyused as an attached file format of the E-mail, this format is also usedin the embodiment. After the image data format is designated by the MIMEheader, the image data encoded by BASE64 is sent subsequent to the MIMEheader (portion of “S: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Image Data)” in the foregoingprotocol sequence).

Upon sending the image data, in the image communicating apparatus 104,the CPU 201 reads out the JPEG data stored in a memory card via the cardinterface 214 (step S413 in FIG. 4A). Subsequently, the CPU 201 executesan encoding process of BASE64 (step S414) and transfers the coded datato the LAN controller 216 (step S415). The LAN controller 216 packetizesit every predetermined amount of data, adds the received IP address“193.168.0.1” of the image communicating apparatus 107 as a header tothe packets, and sends them (step S416).

In the image communicating apparatus 107 which received the image data(step S513 in FIG. 5), unnecessary headers in an E-mail text are deletedby the process of the LAN controller 216 or the CPU 201 (step S514), adecoding process based on BASE64 is executed to the MIME-encoded portionin the E-mail text, and the JPEG data is reconstructed and stored intothe RAM 203 (step S515).

When the sending of all of the JPEG data is finished (step S417 in FIG.4A), the image communicating apparatus 104 sends an end message “QUIT”to the image communicating apparatus 107 (step S418). The imagecommunicating apparatus 107 sends an end reply message “221” (step S517)and the communication is finished.

After that, in the image communicating apparatus 107, the JPEG data isdecompressed in the JPEG processing unit 215 (step S518) and furtherconverted into data of four colors of CMYK in the record processing unit213 (step S519), and the image data is printed and outputted by theprinter unit (step S520).

The image data can be sent at a high speed without using the facsimileprotocol as mentioned above. Assuming that a size of the JPEG image dataobtained by photographing the object by the digital camera is equal to300 kbytes and an uploading transmission speed of the ADSL line is equalto 1 Mbps, a time that is required for transmission is equal to about[300 k/(1000 k/8)=2.4 seconds].

In the image communicating apparatus 104, if the telephone numberinputted in step S402 in FIG. 4A is the number of the telephone lineexchange network (110) such as 03-1234-5678, it is determined from thisnumber of the head three digits that the communication is made to theopponent via the telephone line exchange network. In this case, theapparatus 104 communicates with the image communicating apparatus 112connected to the telephone line exchange network 110 by using the mediagateway 111.

First, the session asking message (INVITE message) of the SIP (SessionInitiation Protocol) in which the telephone number information has beeninserted is sent via the CSMA/CD interface 106 connected to the ADSLmodem (step S419 in FIG. 4B). The private IP address “192.168.0.1” ofthe SIP proxy 103 is inserted into the sending destination address ofthe session asking message and the resultant sending destination addressis sent.

The telephone number information which had already been inputted fromthe key operation unit 211 has been inserted in the destination in theheader of the session asking message. The telephone number informationof the image communicating apparatus 104 has been inserted in thesending source. The IP address of the SIP proxy 103 has been stored inthe sending destination IP address of the IP packets in which the abovemessage has been stored. The IP address of the image communicatingapparatus 104 has been stored in the sending source IP address.

The SIP proxy 103 develops the telephone number in the header of thereceived session asking message into a URL of“8.7.6.5.4.3.2.1.3.0.e164.arpa” (step S602 in FIG. 6) and searches theDNS server 102 (step S603). The SIP proxy which received the IP addressof the media gateway 111 for connecting to the telephone line exchangenetwork 110 from the DNS server 102 (step S604) replaces the sendingdestination IP address in the packet received from the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 with the IP address “194.168.0.1” of themedia gateway 111 received from the DNS server 102, replaces the sendingsource IP address with the IP address of the SIP proxy 103, and sendsthe session asking message to the media gateway 111 (step S605).

The media gateway 111 which received the session asking message (stepS701 in FIG. 7) notifies the image communicating apparatus 112 ofincoming via the telephone line exchange network 110 (step S702) and, atthe same time, sends an on-calling message to the SIP proxy 103 (stepS703). The sending source telephone number information described in theheader of the received session asking message is inserted into thedestination in the header of the on-calling message, the address of theSIP proxy 103 as a sending source IP address of the session askingmessage is inserted into the sending destination IP address, and theresultant address is sent.

The SIP proxy 103 which received the on-calling message (step S606)replaces the sending destination IP address with the IP address of theimage communicating apparatus 104, replaces the sending source IPaddress with the IP address of the SIP proxy 103, and sends theresultant IP addresses (step S607). The image communicating apparatus104 receives the on-calling message (step S420 in FIG. 4B).

Subsequently, if the image communicating apparatus 112 which receivedthe incoming notification (step S801 in FIG. 8) is in the state where itcan receive an image (step S802), the apparatus 112 responds to themedia gateway 111 via the telephone line exchange network 110 (stepS803). The media gateway 111 which received the response (step S704)sends a reply message to the SIP proxy 103 (step S705). The SIP proxy103 which received the reply message converts only the sendingdestination IP address into the IP address of the image communicatingapparatus 104 and sends it and the image communicating apparatus 104receives the reply message (step S421).

The image communicating apparatus 104 can recognize the IP address ofthe media gateway 111 by the sending source IP address in the receivedreply message (step S422). After that, the image communicating apparatus104 can send the packets to the image communicating apparatus 112 via(the IP network 101→the media gateway 111 . . . the telephone lineexchange network 110) without passing through the SIP proxy 103.

As mentioned above, the sending and reception of the data can be startedbetween the image communicating apparatuses 104 and 112 through themedia gateway 111.

In the case of sending and receiving the image between the imagecommunicating apparatuses 104 and 112 (step S423), the CPU 201 writes apredetermined value into a register in the modem codec 210, therebyswitching the selector 210-5 so as to connect the tone generator unit210-2 to the digital encoding unit 210-4 (step S424). Similarly, bywriting a predetermined value into the register in the modem codec 210,the CPU 201 selects the 64 kbps PCM encoding (G.711) as an encodingmethod of the digital encoding unit (step S425).

The reasons why the 64 kbps PCM encoding (G.711) is selected are asfollows. In the image communication between the image communicatingapparatuses 104 and 112, the analog facsimile signal has to be sent fromthe media gateway 111 to the image communicating apparatus 112. At thistime, however, for example, in the ITU-T Recommendation V.34, the analogfacsimile modulation of 33.6 kbps is executed by the TCM (Trellis CodedModulation), the obtained analog facsimile signal is converted into adigital signal, and after that, the digital signal is sent to the mediagateway 111. This is because, at this time, if another VoIP encodingmethod of a speed lower than that of the 64 kbps PCM encoding (G.711) isused, quantization errors increase and there is a risk that thecommunication cannot be normally made. By using the 64 kbps PCM encodingfor the digitization of the VoIP signal to be sent to the media gateway111 as mentioned above, the certainty of the facsimile communicationwith the image communicating apparatus 112 can be improved. If the 64kbps PCM encoding is used, in the case of using the analog facsimilemodulation signal of a speed lower than 33.6 kbps of the TCM (actually,a number of facsimile apparatuses in which an upper limit of the analogfacsimile modulation signal is equal to (or less than) about 9600bps−14.4 kbps−28.8 kbps are used), the certainty of the communicationwith the image communicating apparatus 112 is further improved.

Subsequently, the tone generator unit 210-2 generates a CNG signal. Thegenerated CNG signal is inputted to the digital encoding unit 210-4 viathe selector 210-5 and encoded by the 64 kbps PCM encoding method.

The PCM coded CNG signal is transferred to the RAM 203 via the data busby control of the CPU 201 and stored therein. Subsequently, when the PCMcoded data of 512 bytes is stored, the CPU 201 generates a frame inwhich the IP header including the sending destination IP address and thesending source IP address has been added to the data and transfers theframe to the LAN controller 216. “194.168.0.1” as an IP address of thegateway has been inserted in the sending destination IP address and“192.168.0.1” as an IP address of the image communicating apparatus 104has been inserted in the sending source IP address.

When the LAN controller 216 receives the sent data, it adds the MAC(Media Access Control) header and the CNG signal is sent to the ADSLmodem 105 (step S426). The packets are sent from the ADSL modem 105which received the data to the IP network through the ADSL line. Sincethe sending destination IP address of the sent packets indicates thegateway, the packets are transferred to the media gateway 111 via the IPnetwork 101.

When the media gateway 111 receives the packets from the imagecommunicating apparatus 104 (step S706 in FIG. 7), it recognizes thatthe packets should be sent to the image communicating apparatus 112 viathe telephone line exchange network 110, extracts the coded data fromthe received packets, executes a decoding process, and converts it intoan analog signal (step S707). The FAX signal converted into the analogsignal reaches the image communicating apparatus 112 via the telephoneline exchange network. In step S709, when the media gateway 111 receivesthe analog signal sent from the image communicating apparatus 112, itrecognizes that the analog signal should be sent to the imagecommunicating apparatus 104, assembles the packets to the imagecommunicating apparatus 104, and sends them (step S710). The aboverelaying process is continued until the line disconnection is detected(steps S708, S711).

As mentioned above, the FAX signal sent from the image communicatingapparatus 104 is transmitted to the image communicating apparatus 112and an environment that is equivalent to that in the case of making theFAX communication through an ordinary analog telephone line can beobtained. Therefore, for the image communicating apparatuses 104 and112, processes similar to those of the conventional FAX communicationare merely executed except that the FAX tone signal is PCM encoded. Itis sufficient that the image communicating apparatus 112 can executesubstantially the same operation as that in the conventional T.30facsimile procedure.

The operation which is executed after the CNG signal was sent/receivedbetween the image communicating apparatuses 104 and 112 will be simplyexplained hereinbelow.

The image communicating apparatus 112 which received the CNG (step S804in FIG. 8) sends a DIS (step S805). The image communicating apparatus104 which received the DIS (step S427 in FIG. 4B) sends a DCS and a TCF(step S428). The image communicating apparatus 112 which received theDCS and TCF (step S806) sends a CFR (step S807).

When the image communicating apparatus 104 receives the CFR (step S429),the sending and reception of a tone signal are finished. Therefore, theCPU 201 switches the selector 210-5, thereby connecting the modulationprocessing unit 210-3 to the digital encoding unit 210-4 (step S430).

Subsequently, the CPU 201 starts the image reading operation by the readcontrol unit 205 and the CIS 204 (step S431). In the image data sending,while the original is conveyed under control of the read control unit205, the analog signal inputted from the CIS 204 is A/D converted (stepS432). The converted image data is MH encoded and compressed by the MHprocessing unit 206 (step S433). Subsequently, MH coded data is inputtedto the modulation processing unit 210-3 in the modem codec 210 via thedata bus and modulated into an analog signal (step S434). In theembodiment, it is presumed that the coded data is modulated into theanalog facsimile signal of a transmission speed of 33.6 kbps by the TCMencoding method.

The modulated data is inputted to the digital encoding unit 210-4 viathe selector 210-5 and PCM encoded in the digital encoding unit (stepS435). The PCM coded data is stored into the memory 203 via the databus. Subsequently, the CPU 201 assembles a frame in which the TCP/IPheader has been added to the PCM coded data and transfers it to the LANcontroller 216 (step S436). The LAN controller 216 sends the TCP/IPpackets to the media gateway 111 (step S437).

The media gateway 111 extracts the coded data from the received TCP/IPpackets and sends it as an analog signal to the image communicatingapparatus 112 via the telephone line exchange network 110 (steps S706 toS708 in FIG. 7 mentioned above).

When the sending of all image data is finished (step S438), the call isdisconnected and the processing routine is finished (step S439).

In the image communicating apparatus 112 which received the image data(step S808), the received image data is demodulated by the FAX modem(step S809), decoded by the MH processing unit (equivalent to 206 inFIG. 2A) (step S810), converted into the data of four colors of CMYK bythe record processing unit (equivalent to 213 in FIG. 2A) (step S811),and printed and outputted by the printer unit (step S812).

In step S423, in the case of sending a speech to the same opponent, theCPU 201 switches the selector 210-5 and connects the A/D converter 210-1to the digital encoding unit 210-4 (step S440 in FIG. 4C). The CPU 201writes a predetermined value into the register in the modem codec 210(step S441) so as to use the speech encoding method determined betweenthe image communicating apparatus 104 and the media gateway 111 at thetime of connection of the call. In the embodiment, explanation is madeon the assumption that 5.3 kb/sec: A-CELP (G.723.1) has been selected.

The speech inputted from the speech input/output unit 208 is convertedinto a digital signal by the A/D converter 210-1 and inputted to thedigital encoding unit 210-4 via the selector 210-5.

In the digital encoding unit 210-4, the speech is converted into codeddata of G.723.1 of the speed of 5.3 kbps (step S442). The converted datais stored into the memory 203 via the data bus. Subsequently, the frameto which the IP header has been added is assembled and, thereafter, itis transferred to the LAN controller 216 (step S443). The MAC address isadded by the LAN controller 216 and the resultant frame is sent to theimage communicating apparatus 112 (step S444).

The above data processes are repeated until the end of the speech. Whenthe speech is finished (step S445), the line is disconnected (step S446)and the communication is finished.

As mentioned above, by switching the selector 210-5 in the modem codec210 and the encoding method in accordance with the communicationopponent and the communication media and using it, the efficientmodulation, encoding, and communication can be realized. Combinations ofthem are shown in a table of FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 9, although the modem codec 210 is not used in imagecommunication 901 via the IP network, different encoding methods areused in speech communication 902 via the IP network and imagecommunication 903 via the telephone network.

Particularly, in the case of executing the image communication 903 viathe telephone network, that is, when the image communicating apparatus104 calls the image communicating apparatus 112 and makes the facsimilecommunication of T.30, the 64 kbps PCM encoding method which is optimumto the image communication via the IP network is used. The reasons whythe 64 kbps PCM encoding method is designated here are because at aspeed lower than 64 kbps (encoding method of a lower speed shown withrespect to the digital encoding unit 210-4 mentioned above), there is arisk that the image transmission speed is reduced due to a fallback orthe like which is caused by a failure in training. If the PCM encodingmethod corresponding to 64 kbps is used, an upper limit is assumed to be33.6 kbps and in the case of the analog facsimile communication of about(9600 bps−14.4 kbps−28.8 kbps) that is equal to or lower than the upperlimit value can be more certainly made.

In the speech communication 902 via the IP network (in the case whereboth terminals have IP connection) or speech communication 904 via thetelephone network (in the case where the opponent terminal does not havethe IP connection but is connected via a proper VoIP gateway), anarbitrary encoding method suitable for those speech communication isused. Particularly, in the speech communication 902 via the IP network(in the case where both terminals have IP connection), the digitalencoding method determined by the negotiation which is performed on thebasis of the VoIP protocol between this apparatus and the opponentstation is selected and used.

As mentioned above, the analog image signal in which the image data hasbeen facsimile-modulated can be sent to the image communicatingapparatus 112 through the media gateway 111.

According to the embodiment, when the image is sent, the wastefulprocessing steps (FIG. 2B) of converting the signal modulated by themodem into the analog signal and, further, converting the analog signalinto the digital signal through the VoIP codec are unnecessary.Moreover, by properly selecting the digital encoding method of thedigital encoding means (modem codec 210) which is also used in thespeech communication, particularly, by selecting the digital encodingmethod (in the above example, the 64 kbps PCM encoding method) that isoptimum to the facsimile modulating method in the case of making theimage communication with the image communicating apparatus 112 having noIP connection through the media gateway 111, the band of the VoIPdigital communication can be extremely effectively used in the analogfacsimile signal in a range of (9600 bps−14.4 kbps−28.8 kbps−33.6 kbps).The image communication of the high reliability can be made with theimage communicating apparatus 112 through the media gateway 111.

The same digital encoding means (modem codec 210) can be used in commonfor the VoIP speech communication and the image communication, hardwareresources can be effectively used, and the system can be simplyconstructed at low costs.

Although the modem codec 210 shown in FIG. 2A can be constructed as a1-chip device, naturally, effects similar to those mentioned above canbe obtained even in the case where the functions in the modem codec aredistributed into different devices.

Embodiment 2

The example in which the SMTP is used as a communication protocol whenthe image communicating apparatus 104 sends the image to the imagecommunicating apparatus 107 has been shown in the embodiment 1. However,similar effect can be also obtained by using other image communicationprotocols. For example, the “Peer to Peer” image transmission can berealized by using an IPPFAX (Internet Printing Protocol FAX).

FIG. 3C shows a communication sequence in the case of using the IPPFAXbetween the image communicating apparatuses 104 and 107. The sequenceuntil the start of the image transmission is substantially the same asthat in FIG. 3A. The image transmission executed by the SMTP in FIG. 3Ais executed by the protocol of the IPPFAX in FIG. 3C.

Naturally, the protocol to execute the image transmission between theimage communicating apparatuses 104 and 112 both having the IPconnection without using the facsimile procedure is not limited to theforegoing SMTP or IPPFAX but other arbitrary protocols such as HTTP,FTP, and the like on the TCP/IP can be used.

Embodiment 3

The embodiment 1 has been described on the assumption that upon sendingfrom the image communicating apparatus 104 to the image communicatingapparatus 107, the JPEG image data in the memory card is sent, and uponsending from the image communicating apparatus 104 to the imagecommunicating apparatus 112, the image read by the CIS is sent. However,naturally, similar effects can be also obtained by a combinationopposite to that mentioned above with respect to the image inputtingmethod in each communication.

Embodiment 4

The embodiment 1 has been described on the assumption that whether thecommunication is made to the terminal connected to the IP network or theterminal connected to the line exchange network is discriminated by thenumber of the head portion of the telephone number. However, naturally,by registering a relation between the telephone number and each type ofnetwork to which the opponent terminal is connected, the opponentterminal is discriminated and the effects similar to those mentionedabove can be obtained.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to the communicating apparatuswhich makes the speech and image communication and corresponds to theanalog communication path and the network communication path. Such acommunicating apparatus can be constructed as a dedicated apparatus andalso embodied by using the image input/output unit such as scanner,camera interface, and the like and hardware such as a PC (personalcomputer) and the like having a network interface. Particularly, in thecase of using the PC hardware, the method and the program of theinvention can be implemented into such PC hardware via a proper storingmedium or a network.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2003-308189 filed on Sep. 1, 2003, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A communicating apparatus for digitally encoding a speech signal bydigital encoding means and sending the coded signal to an opponentstation, thereby making VoIP speech communication and sending andreceiving image data to/from the opponent station, comprising:communication control means for, when image data is sent to the opponentstation, if the opponent station has an IP address, selecting a firstimage communicating procedure by which the image data is notfacsimile-modulated but sent and received to/from the opponent stationon an IP network on the basis of a predetermined IP communicationprotocol by using the IP address of the opponent station obtained from apredetermined server on the basis of a telephone number of the opponentstation, and if the opponent station does not have the IP address,selecting a second image communicating procedure by which the image datais facsimile-modulated by a predetermined facsimile modulating method,an analog facsimile signal obtained by said facsimile modulation isdigitally encoded by said digital encoding means, and subsequently, thedigital coded signal is sent to the opponent station through a mediagateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IPnetwork and a public line network.
 2. A communicating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein in said second image communicatingprocedure, the digital encoding method of said digital encoding means isswitched to the digital encoding method suitable for said facsimilemodulating method, and a tone signal necessary for a facsimilecommunication procedure or the facsimile-modulated transmission imagedata is inputted to said digital encoding means.
 3. A communicatingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image data is sent tothe opponent station, which one of said first and second imagecommunicating procedures is used is determined by analyzing thetelephone number of the opponent station.
 4. A communicating apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein in said VoIP speech communication, thedigital encoding method of said digital encoding means is selected onthe basis of negotiation which is performed on the basis of a VoIPprotocol.
 5. A control method of a communicating apparatus for digitallyencoding a speech signal by digital encoding means and sending the codedsignal to an opponent station, thereby making VoIP speech communicationand sending and receiving image data to/from the opponent station,wherein: when image data is sent to the opponent station, if theopponent station has an IP address, there is selected a first imagecommunicating procedure by which the image data is notfacsimile-modulated but sent and received to/from the opponent stationon an IP network on the basis of a predetermined IP communicationprotocol by using the IP address of the opponent station obtained from apredetermined server on the basis of a telephone number of the opponentstation, and if the opponent station does not have the IP address, thereis selected a second image communicating procedure by which the imagedata is facsimile-modulated by a predetermined facsimile modulatingmethod, an analog facsimile signal obtained by said facsimile modulationis digitally encoded by said digital encoding means, and subsequently,the digital coded signal is sent to the opponent station through a mediagateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IPnetwork and a public line network.
 6. A control method of thecommunicating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in said secondimage communicating procedure, the digital encoding method of saiddigital encoding means is switched to the digital encoding methodsuitable for said facsimile modulating method, and a tone signalnecessary for a facsimile communication procedure or facsimile-modulatedtransmission image data is inputted to said digital encoding means.
 7. Acontrol method of the communicating apparatus according to claim 5,wherein when the image data is sent to the opponent station, which oneof said first and second image communicating procedures is used isdetermined by analyzing the telephone number of the opponent station. 8.A control method of the communicating apparatus according to claim 5,wherein in said VoIP speech communication, the digital encoding methodof said digital encoding means is selected on the basis of negotiationwhich is performed on the basis of a VoIP protocol.
 9. A control programof a communicating apparatus for digitally encoding a speech signal bydigital encoding means and sending the coded signal to an opponentstation, thereby making VoIP speech communication and sending andreceiving image data to/from the opponent station, comprising: a controlstep of, when image data is sent to the opponent station, if theopponent station has an IP address, selecting a first imagecommunicating procedure by which the image data is notfacsimile-modulated but sent and received to/from the opponent stationon an IP network on the basis of a predetermined IP communicationprotocol by using the IP address of the opponent station obtained from apredetermined server on the basis of a telephone number of the opponentstation, and if the opponent station does not have the IP address,selecting a second image communicating procedure by which the image datais facsimile-modulated by a predetermined facsimile modulating method,an analog facsimile signal obtained by said facsimile modulation isdigitally encoded by said digital encoding means, and subsequently, thedigital coded signal is sent to the opponent station through a mediagateway for executing analog/digital signal conversion between the IPnetwork and a public line network.
 10. A control program of thecommunicating apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein in said secondimage communicating procedure, the digital encoding method of saiddigital encoding means is switched to the digital encoding methodsuitable for said facsimile modulating method, and a tone signalnecessary for a facsimile communication procedure or facsimile-modulatedtransmission image data is inputted to said digital encoding means. 11.A control program of the communicating apparatus, according to claim 9,wherein when the image data is sent to the opponent station, which oneof said first and second image communicating procedures is used isdetermined by analyzing the telephone number of the opponent station.12. A control program of the communicating apparatus, according to claim9, wherein in said VoIP speech communication, the digital encodingmethod of said digital encoding means is selected on the basis ofnegotiation which is performed on the basis of a VoIP protocol.
 13. Acommunicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the secondimage communication procedure, said communication control means switchesthe digital encoding method of said digital encoding means to a digitalencoding method suitable for said facsimile modulating method, andcauses said digital encoding mans to digitally encode an analogfacsimile signal obtained by said facsimile modulation.
 14. A controlmethod of communicating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in thesecond image communication procedure, the digital encoding method ofsaid digital encoding means is switched to a digital encoding methodsuitable for said facsimile modulating method, and said digital encodingmeans digitally encodes an analog facsimile signal obtained by saidfacsimile modulation.
 15. A control program of communicating apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein in the second image communicationprocedure, the digital encoding method of said digital encoding means isswitched to a digital encoding method suitable for said facsimilemodulating method, and said digital encoding means digitally encodes ananalog facsimile signal obtained by said facsimile modulation.